Production of calcium arsenates



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tli iiTEfi ST-ATIES unease cameo LOPEZ, or sr. ALBANS, WEST VIRGINIA.

PRGDUGTIDN OF CALCIUM ARSEN'ATES.

Ho Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that DOMINGO Lorna, a citizen of the Republic-of Mexico, residing at St. Albans, in the county of Kanawha and State of lVest Virginia, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Production of Calcium Arsenates, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

invention relates to the production of arsenates, more particularly calcium arsenate.

it has been proposed to manufacture arsenates by oxidizing in the presence of water, an arsenic derivativefor example arsenious acid, to arsenic acid. by means of a halogen by providing a compound adapted to form a haloid with the halogen reagent and thereafter adding a suitable metal compound to produce the arsenate desired. I have found it is not necessary to first oxidize to arsenic acid and that the metal arsenate, preferably calcium arsenate, may be produced directly instead of indirectly, that is, in a single step instead of a series of steps. This is, of course, a considerable ad vantage from a manufacturing point of View, allowing economical and ellicient manufacture. Moreover, the reaction is an exothermic one and it has been found that the heat evolved prevents to a certain extent the formation of solu e arsenates, which is a distinct advantage, as compounds of this type are highly undesirable in the finished product.

In the preferred form, my invention contemplates the use of an exciter which favorably alfects the reaction and in addition,

gives a product physically desirable it being line and fluffy. My invention also contemplates the recovery of the calcium chloride produced and its use for refrigeration, as a drying agent for products other than food products, and for the manufacture of cer tain kinds of chalk. v

In the preparation of arsenates, I proceed as follows, the preparation of calcium arsenate being set forth: To a mixture ofcalciuin hydroxide, arsenious oxide and lukewarm water, at a temperature of approximately C., chlorine is added resulting 111 the format on of calcium arsenate, lIlSllaIP Application filed March 19', 1923. Serial No. 628,159.

taneously, in a single step according to the following equation:

But as neither of the two can take the primacy and as neither excludes the other, it follows that neither can be looked upon as he only representative of the phenomena. If the chlorine acts upon the arsenious oxide first, then reactions (b) take place, but if the chlorine actsupon the lime first, reactions (0) occur;-moreover, as the chemicals are intimately mixed, the chlorine acts upon them indiscriminately and in consequence the" reaction truly representing my invention is the one marked (a).

' The reaction occurs in a rather dilute solution, in which the reacting substances are preferably present inv the following proportions: 198 parts of arsenious oxide, 370 parts of calcium hydroxide, 4850 parts of water, 147 parts of chlorine.

During the feeding of the chlorine the mix is kept in constant agitation by any suitable means. After the reaction is complete the product is heated to a boiling temperature to eliminate the traces of soluble arsenates.

In the preferred form, the reacting mixture has present a small amount of a base, such as sodium hydroxide, which activates or excites the reaction, confers desirable physical properties upon the calcium arsenate. To compensatefor the presence of the Cal . hydroxide is added. It is quite important Ithat the milk and the product, diluted with cium chloride is formed which immediately reacts with the base present according to the equation;

The calcium hydroxide obtained by the above reaction causes the formation of a very light and fluffy calcium arsenate.

This vital part of my invention has been verified by preparing calcium arsenate without any cxciter, and repeating the operation on a new portion in which, before chlorinating a small amount of a base (NaOl-l), has been added, or a small part'of the lime had been converted into calcium chloride and finally precipitated as calcium hydroxide by the addition of the corresponding amount of NaOl-l, and testing both products it was found, in a number of cases, that those in which the base was present excelled in lightness and that the presence of the base excites and essentially modifies the physical. prop erties of the product.

Nhenthe reaction is completed the mother liquor should show less than one tenth of l.% of free chlorine and about 4.7 of calcium chloride. The product obtained after drawin off the mother solution contains about 5 of Amt), which is in excess of the requirements for a commercial insecticide. Accordingly, to reduce the A5 0,; content to approximately 40.%, an inactive substance, preferably boiling milk of lime containing near 15.% of lime as the water, be at a boiling temperature when added together. Proceeding according to the above, the mother liquor comprises calcium chloride together with small amounts of impurities. The calcium chloride may be recovered as such and sold or utilized for other purposes.

Instead of drawing off the mother liquor, the rcactimi-prodiuat which contains calcium chloride may be treated in the cold with any suitable chemical compound,preferably an alkali metal hydroxide or rbmu-ate, for cs;- ample, sodium hydroxide or carl'iouzuc, in an ammint required to precipitate the necessary amount of inactive matter, In this acetate manner the calcium chloride functions to produce the inactive matter necessary to bring the arsenate to the desired AS 0on iltent. The reactions that occur are as folows:

It is essential to remark that my invention covers the case of a lime rich in can bonates, in which case the reaction taking place is as follows:

The carbon dioxide produced in the reaction is driven off while boiling the product. in the specification and claims the term lime is to be understood as generic to lime or a. lime rich in carbonates.

It is obvious that my invention may be varied somewhat as to details Without departing from the spirit thereof. ll hile my process is applicable, as indicated through out the specification, to the preparation of arsenates in general, it is particularly suit able for the preparation of arsenates of the alkaline earths.

I claim:

1. The process oi producing" a. light tlutl'y calcium arsena-te in a single step comprising passing chlorine into a mixture or lukewarm water, arsenious oxide, and lime, and boiling after the chemical reaction occurs to minimize the production of soluble arsenaties. v

2. The process of producing a light fiufiy calcium arsenate in a single step comprising passing chlorine into a mixture of lukewarm water, arsenious oxide, an exciter, and lime, and boiling after the chemical reaction. occurs to minimize the production of soluble arsenates.

3. The process of producing a light fluffy calcium arsenate in a single stepcomprising passing chlorine into a mixture of lukewarm water, arsenious oxide, a small per centage of a base, and lime, and. boiling" after the chemical reaction occurs to minimize the PTOdIYCl'lOH of soluble arsenates.

4. The process of producing a light flufiy calcium arnesate in a single step comprising passing; chlorine into a mixture of lukewarm Water, arscuious oxide, a small percentage of sodium hydroxide as an activator, and lime, and boiling after the chemical reaction occurs to minimize the production of soluble arsenates.

5. The process of producing a light fiuily calcium arscnate in a single step comprising passing chlorine into a mixture of luhewarm water, arsenious oxide, lime, and a small amount of a base as an cxciter, boilin the mixture after the reaction occurs to minimize the production of soluble aresnates adding to the mixture an alkali metal compound in a quantity sutficientto react with the calcium chloride and produce an inactive compound adapted to reduce the AS295 content of the product and recovering the solid component thereof.

6. The process of producing a light flufi'y calcium arsenate in at single step comprising passing chlorine into a mixture of lukewarm water, arsenious oxide, lime, and a small amount of sodium hydroxide as totivator, boiling the mixture after the reaction occursto minimize the production ofsoluble arsenetes, adding to the mixture an alkali metalcompound in a quantity sufii-' cient to react with the calcium chloride, and produce an inactive compound to reduce the AS 0 conteht of the product, and recovering the solid component thereof.

In testimony whereof Lafiix: my signature.

DOMINGO LOPEZ. 

